Pens, Pencils, & Markers

Ink Pens – are commonly used in homes, schools, and offices. They come in many different types and styles. Inexpensive plastic ink pens are lightweight and good for everyday use. More expensive ink pens are generally heavier in weight and are made of metal or plastic and metal. Rollerball pens, ballpoint pens, and fountain pens are the most common ink pen varieties.

Fountain Pens – are not as common as they once were, but they offer an elegant feel and look. They are refilled with bottled ink or small ink cartridges depending on the model. Fountain pens that use bottled ink generally hold more but are more difficult to refill. Pens that use cartridges are more convenient.

The nib is the name given to the tip of a fountain pen. They come in widths ranging from extra fine to broad. Fine nibs provide more accurate results and are better for small handwriting. The stiffness of the nib also varies. A stiffer nib is better if you put a lot of pressure on the pen.

Wood Pens – are usually specialty pens and are often custom made. Many people choose to have their name engraved on the pen. Wood pens generally have an elegant look that separates them from other types. In addition, many wood pens use 24kt or 10kt gold hardware. Wood pens can be made from a variety of wood types and are available as ballpoint, rollerball, or fountain pens.

Pencils – are frequently used by students, artists, and architects. These people often prefer them over pens because they frequently need to change their documents. Unlike the indelible ink that most pens use, pencils are erasable. Pencil “lead” is actually made of graphite. Pencils are available in a variety of types. The most common include regular wood pencils, mechanical pencils, and colored pencils.

Mechanical Pencils – are generally refillable and use thin pieces of lead. The lead is usually 0.5 mm or 0.7 mm in width and gets pushed through the pencil when you press a button. The button is usually located on the top or the lower side of the pencil. Mechanical pencils with the button on top are the most common. The pencils with the button on the side allow you to advance the lead without moving your hand.

Colored Pencils – frequently provide cleaner, neater results than crayons, markers, or paints. They are just like regular pencils but use colored lead. Colored pencils can create accurate detail or color large areas.